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Related FAQs: TWA Invertebrates, Fishes of the Tropical West
Atlantic, Tropical West Atlantic 2,
Related Articles: Algae, Vascular Plants, Introduction to Fishwatcher's Guide
Series Pieces/Sections, Lachnolaimus
maxiumus/Hogfish, Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
Invertebrates, Algae and Vascular Plants of The Tropical West Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil,
Part 2
To: Part 1,
Part 3, Part 4,
Part 5, Part 6,
Part 7, Part 8,
Part 9,
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By Bob Fenner
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Sponges |
Sponges, Phylum Porifera
Classification:
Sponges comprise the phylum Porifera, whose name means "bearing
openings"; an allusion to their overall porosity and general mode of feeding
(filtration), respiring, excreting wastes while whipping water in through openings in
their body walls. Sponges are the simplest form of multicellular animals, just up from
protozoans and down from cnidarians (stinging-celled like corals and anemones) in most
taxonomic schemes. They don't, in fact, have tissues or organs. Their cells are somewhat
unspecialized and quite independent, more like a commune or colony than a single animal.
There are about 5,000 identified marine species of sponges. There are a
few ambulatory types but almost all are attached permanently to hard or soft substratums.
Sponges are found worldwide, mostly in shallow waters; in all colors and shapes and sizes,
from a thumbnail to a washtub. Some are cylinders, others vase-like; most are crustose and
irregular (shown: a Caribbean sponge scene off of Tobago, Sponge scene in Tobago, Carib.).
The Porifera live up to their names by having a characteristic
arrangement of specialized cells imbedded in a spongy matrix (spongin), incurrent pores
(ostia) formed by porocytes allow water into an open space (atrium) in their bodies
and out one or more larger openings (oscula-ae). Their outer walls are supported by
non-living calcareous or siliceous structural elements called spicules. Along with
proteins these are the sponge skeletons of bathroom sponges derived from biological
sources.
| Agelas conifera, the Brown Tube Sponge. Typically
smooth walled, brown to tan in color, smooth, velvety in appearance. Grow
in clusters, joined at base. Bonaire pic. |
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| Aplysina archeri, the Stove Pipe Sponge. Long thin
tubes of lavander, gray or brown. Soft to the touch. Tropical West Atlantic.
Bonaire pic. |
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| Aplysina cauliformis, the Row Pore Rope Sponge. Long
rows of excurrent siphons. Occur in tints of purple, reds. Antigua
photo. |
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| Aplysina fistularia, the Yellow Tube Sponge. Yellow
to orange tubes that bear antler-like growths in shallows, and grow longer
w/o these "antlers" in increasing depths. Don't touch! Purple
color stains hands for days. Right: shallow colony in Bahamas and deeper
one in Belize . Below: young colonies in Antigua and Bahamas, and a large
one in Bonaire. |
 
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| Callyspongia plicifera. Azure Vase Sponge. Bahamas
pic. |
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| Cinachyra sp. Orange Ball Sponge. Tropical West
Atlantic, to 100 foot depth, under ledges, in protected areas. To about
1/2 foot diameter orange ball-shapes, with many excurrent siphons riddling
their surface. St. Thomas image. |
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| Clathrina canariensis Yellow Calcareous Sponge (Class
Calcarea). A delicate, small (to four inches) bright yellow organism, made
up of intertwined tubes. Tropical West Atlantic; usually found within
caves or other shady spots. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. |
 
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| Cribrochalina vasculum, the Brown Bowl Sponge.
Bahamas pix. |
 
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| Diplastrella megastellata Red-Orange Encrusting
Sponge. Caribbean. To ten inches, seventy five feet in depth. Found in
shaded areas, even under rocks, overhangs. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. |
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| Ectyoplasia ferox, Brown Encrusting Octopus Sponge.
Occurs as both encrusting and in multiple-armed arborose
morphologies. Bahamas pic. |
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| Iotrochota birotulata, the Green Finger Sponge. Made
up of finger-like branches, often covered with Golden Zoanthids (as
shown). Bahamas and St. Lucia pix. |
 
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| Ircinia felix, Class Demospongiae. Stinker Sponge.
Light gray or brown encrusting globes, 6-12 inches in diameter.
Conspicuous hexagonal markings on surface. Smells very bad on removal from
water. Cozumel pix, close-up by Diana.F |
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| Niphates digitalis, the Pink Vase Sponge. Pink, blue,
gray. To twelve inches in height. Bahamas and Cozumel pix. The second one
acting as a host/commensal for the zoanthid
Parazoanthus parasiticus. |
 
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| Phorbas amanthus, Red Sieve Encrusting Sponge.
Cozumel pic by Diana.F. Size 6-18 in. Bright red, with surface showing
numerous craters (raised circular sieve like areas) and small incurrent
pores around protruding excurrent openings. Reacts to touch by closing
openings and pores. |
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| Siphonodictyon coralliphagum, the Variable Boring
Sponge. Not for reef aquariums. Appears in various physical forms, fingers
to bowls, to encrusting patches. Bores into live corals. May appear
encrusting or tublular. Cancun pix. |
 
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| Spirastrella coccinea, a relatively common encrusting
sponge, here in Cozumel, a close-up by Diana.F. |
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| Tedania ignis, Fire Sponge. Tropical West Atlantic
down to 35 ft. 4-12 inches overall. Distinctive volcano-like excurrent
openings. Orange to bright red in color overall. Irritating to the
touch. Bahamas and Bonaire pix. |
 
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| Xestospongia muta, the Giant Barrel Sponge. To six
feet in height. Bahamas pic. |
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To: Part 1, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5,
Part 6, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 9,
Part 10, Part 11,
Part 12, Part 13,
Part 14, Part 15,
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